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while she remains with us。’
Mrs。 Bennet was profuse in her acknowledgments。
‘I am sure；’ she added； ‘if it was not for such good friends I do
not know what would become of her； for she is very ill indeed； and
suffers a vast deal； though with the greatest patience in the world；
which is always the way with her； for she has； without exception；
the sweetest temper I ever met with。 I often tell my other girls they
are nothing to her。 You have a sweet room here； Mr。 Bingley； and a
charming prospect over that gravel walk。 I do not know a place in
the country that is equal to Netherfield。 You will not think of
quitting it in a hurry I hope； though you have but a short lease。’
‘Whatever I do is done in a hurry；’ replied he； ‘and therefore if I
should resolve to quit Netherfield； I should probably be off in five
minutes。 At present； however； I consider myself as quite fixed
here。’
‘That is exactly what I should have supposed of you；’ said
Elizabeth。
‘You begin to comprehend me； do you？’ cried he； turning
towards her。
‘Oh！ yes—I understand you perfectly。’
I wish I might take this for a compliment； but to be so easily
seen through I am afraid is pitiful。’
‘That is as it happens。 It does not necessarily follow that a deep；
intricate character is more or less estimable than such a one as
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yours。’
‘Lizzy；’ cried her mother； ‘remember where you are； and do not
run on in the wild manner that you are suffered to do at home。’
‘I did not know before；’ continued Bingley immediately； ‘that
you were a studier of character。 It must be an amusing study。’
‘Yes； but intricate characters are the most amusing。 They have
at least that advantage。’
‘The country；’ said Darcy； ‘can in general supply but few
subjects for such a study。 In a country neighbourhood you move in
a very confined and unvarying society。’
‘But people themselves alter so much； that there is something
new to be observed in them for ever。’
‘Yes； indeed；’ cried Mrs。 Bennet； offended by his manner of
mentioning a country neighbourhood。 ‘I assure you there is quite
as much of that going on in the country as in town。’
Every body was surprised； and Darcy； after looking at her for a
moment； turned silently away。 Mrs。 Bennet； who fancied she had
gained a complete victory over him； continued her triumph。
‘I cannot see that London has any great advantage over the
country for my part； except the shops and public places。 The
country is a vast deal pleasanter； is not it； Mr。 Bingley？’
‘When I am in the country；’ he replied； ‘I never wish to leave it；
and when I am in town it is pretty much the same。 They have each
their advantages； and I can be equally happy in either。’
‘Aye—that is because you have the right disposition。 But that
gentleman；’ looking at Darcy； ‘seemed to think the country was
nothing at all。’
‘Indeed； Mama； you are mistaken；’ said Elizabeth； blushing for
her mother。 ‘You quite mistook Mr。 Darcy。 He only meant that
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there were not such a variety of people to be met with in the
country as in town； which you must acknowledge to be true。’
‘Certainly； my dear； nobody said there were； but as to not
meeting with many people in this neighbourhood； I believe there
are few neighbourhoods larger。 I know we dine with four and
twenty families。’
Nothing but concern for Elizabeth could enable Bingley to keep
his countenance。 His sister was less delicate； and directed her eye
towards Mr。 Darcy with a very expressive smile。 Elizabeth； for the
sake of saying something that might turn her mother’s thoughts；
now asked her if Charlotte Lucas had been at Longbourn since her
coming away。
‘Yes； she called yesterday with her father。 What an agreeable
man Sir William is； Mr。 Bingley—is not he？ so much the man of
fashion！ so genteel and so easy！—He has always something to say
to every body。—That is my idea of good breeding； and those
persons who fancy themselves very important and never open
their mouths； quite mistake the matter。’
‘Did Charlotte dine with you？’
‘No； she would go home。 I fancy she was wanted about the
mince pies。 For my part； Mr。 Bingley； I always keep servants that
can do their own work； my daughters are brought up differently。
But every body is to judge for themselves； and the Lucases are very
good sort of girls； I assure you。 It is a pity they are not handsome！
Not that I think Charlotte so very plain—but then she is our
particular friend。’
‘She seems a very pleasant young woman；’ said Bingley。
‘Oh！ dear； yes；—but you must own she is very plain。 Lady Lucas
herself has often said so； and envied me Jane’s beauty。 I do not like
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to boast of my own child； but to be sure； Jane—one does not often
see any body better looking。 It is what every body says。 I do not
trust my own partiality。 When she was only fifteen； there was a
gentleman at my brother Gardiner’s in town； so much in love with
her； that my sister…in…law was sure he would make her an offer
before we came away。 But however he did not。 Perhaps he thought
her too young。 However； he wrote some verses on her； and very
pretty they were。’
‘And so ended his affection；’ said Elizabeth impatiently。 ‘There
has been many a one； I fancy； overcome in the same way。 I wonder
who first discovered the efficacy of poetry in driving away love！’
‘I have been used to consider poetry as the food of love；’ said
Darcy。
‘Of a fine； stout； healthy love it may。 Every thing nourishes what
is strong already。 But if it be only a slight； thin sort of inclination； I
am convinced that one good sonnet will starve it entirely away。’
Darcy only smiled； and the general pause which ensued made
Elizabeth tremble lest her mother should be exposing herself
again。 She longed to speak； but could think of nothing to say； and
after a short silence Mrs。 Bennet began repeating her thanks to
Mr。 Bingley for his kindness to Jane； with an apology for troubling
him also with Lizzy。 Mr。 Bingley was unaffectedly civil in his
answer； and forced his younger sister to be civil also； and say what
the occasion required。 She performed her part indeed without
much graciousness； but Mrs。 Bennet was satisfied； and soon
afterwards ordered her carriage。 Upon this signal； the youngest of
her daughters put herself forward。 The two girls had been
whispering to each other during the whole visit； and the result of it
was； that the youngest should tax Mr。 Bingley with having
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promised on his first coming into the country to give a ball at
Netherfield。
Lydia was a stout； well…grown girl of fifteen； with a fine
complexion and good…humoured countenance； a favourite with her
mother； whose affection had brought her into public at an early
age。 She had high animal spirits； and a sort of natural self…
consequence； which the attentions of the officers； to whom her
uncle’s good dinners and her own easy mann